What A Storm

We had a pretty wicked storm here yesterday. Not as bad as the East Coast but enough to cause us some damage. It's still going on today but the sky is a little lighter than it was yesterday. Our wind gusts are up to 65 m.p.h, although I don't know why they're called gusts when they seem to be constant.
I thought I'd share some photos of the aftermath along with some pictures of what we've been doing lately.

Here are a couple of branches I picked up this morning. It was so windy and cold that I left most of them. They are littering our yard, we should fine them.

This branch, though, is in the most trouble. When it fell....

It brought the whole tree down with it.

This will make good firewood

I think that's appropriate punishment for the damage it did.

This little trunk crack caused a power outage in our entire subdivision. Wanna bet the neighbors aren't happy with us?

But, we made the most of it and used the time for family card games. We had to use oil lamps and candles to see by. It was kinda like being in the 1950's.....just kidding. Trust me when I say this room was pretty dark, I just have a very bright flash on my camera.

In other news: Cerah has been making a cutting board in woodshop. It's not done yet as you can see but it is turning out beautiful.

Hannah has been faithfully finding the right keys on her flute

and then practicing. We have heard the same song at least 1,000 times.

Morgan has been busy studying

with the help of Lucy

Rob and Hannah are helping Cerah make her Halloween costume

And when we get a chance, we all put our cozy jammies on and just relax

Sometimes we even get a chance to sit down while it's still light out!

Fall is here

WARNING: this is not for the faint of heart, tree huggers, or those of you who have recently planted trees! Fall has officially come to our neck of the woods. How do I know? It's not the cold weather, darkness falling at 3:00 p.m, or pumpkins that are everywhere I look. No, it's these pictures right here that have convinced me. My yard was a beautiful, green, empty place just two days ago. And now it looks like this:

Yep, it is now covered in orange things that looked much prettier hanging from the trees. I tried to convince them of that. I told them I would come out every day and admire them from afar while they were way up there in the sky (where they belong). But, alas, they like tormenting me. Kinda like the kids...o.k. I'm back. Yes that is a flamingo in our yard. That shocked look on his face is the realization that he's not in Florida anymore.

Now this is better. Not so many leaves. Wait, that's just the front yard which happens to have only one oak tree and is the smallest part of the yard.

Oh, look, even the branches wanted to follow the leaves. Naughty leaves setting such a bad example.


Here it is again. I'm so traumatized I had to see it twice to believe it.

They're even invading the garage! Can you see those little buggers hanging out in the gutters just waiting for us to relax our vigil so they can fly in and take up residence inside?

Another WARNING: If you don't like yard work, or leaves, or acorns, or squirrels, or ducks, or rabbits, or deer, or weeds, or even shocked pink flamingos then NEVER, EVER, EVER buy a house whose listing description has these words: park like setting.